1804

1805

In October, Admiral Horatio Nelson destroys the French fleet at Trafalgar; the decisive battle in which no British ship was lost, but the Admiral mortally wounded, firmly establish England’s supremacy at sea.

In December, Napoléon defeats the Austrian army at Austerlitz and declares himself King of Italy. The Third Coalition (Great Britain, Austria, Russia and Sweden) is established.

1806

Napoléon captures Berlin. The Holy Roman Empire is dissolved, and the Kingdom of Holland created with Louis Napoléon enthroned as King. Joseph Bonaparte is enthroned as King of Naples, and Marshall Jean Baptiste Bernadotte made Prince of Ponto Corvo.

1807

Napoléon defeats the Russian army at Friedland. The Kingdom of Westphalia created, and Jèrôme Napoléon enthroned as King.

1808

Napoléon places his brother, Joseph, on the throne of Spain.

1809

Denby Pottery Ltd. starts production of salt–glazed pottery; Napoléon divorces Joséphine, and defeats the Austrian army at Wagram. The same year Jean Baptiste Bernadotte is removed as Marshall of France for reasons unknown, although rumour has it that the ardent revolutionary has fallen out of grace with the Emperor.

1810, March.

Emperor Napoléon I of France marries Archduchess Marie Louise of Austria in March, and in June Swedish Lieutenant Carl Otto Mörner arrive in Paris on official business as a courier for the Swedish government.

Of the firm belief that Sweden would do well with a French Marshall as its new King — but without official sanction — the Lieutenant approaches Jean Baptiste Bernadotte on the topic.

Later that same year a French agent by the name of Fournier arrive in Stockholm bearing greetings from Marshall Bernadotte, and a passport signed by the French Foreign Minister. Assuming that Fournier acts on behalf of the French Emperor Bonaparte, the Swedish Parliament votes to make Jean Baptiste Bernadotte Crown Prince of Sweden.

In October the former Marshall arrive in Sweden with a raging cold. He is introduced to King Karl XIII and Queen Charlotta, and later adopted by the King; thus made Crown Prince under the name of Karl Johan.

1811, March

Birth of Napoléon François–Joseph Charles, son of Emperor Napoléon I of France, and Empress Marie Louise.

1812, August.

Napoléon marches on Russia in August, bringing the 600,000 men of Le Grande Armèe to victory at Borodino; he reaches Moskow in September, but is hard put by the winter. In Sweden, Karl Johan, already the de facto ruler due to the senility of Karl XIII, grabs power under the name of Karl XIV Johan.

Napoléons former Field Marshal immediately ferry supplies and men accustomed to winter war to the besieged Emperor and bolsters his army’s stand in Moskow. With Swedish troops to cover the inevitable retreat. the Army pull back, leaving Moskow a burnt shell. Some French troops are diverted to Sweden, and from there into Finland alongside Swedish infantry.

Later in the year, Sir Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, pushes French troops out of Spain after the battle of Vitoria. Finland and large areas of Russia is made Swedish territory.

1813, October

Napoléon fights the Allies to a draw at Leizig. Karl XIV Johan pressures Denmark to yield him Norway. An official peace is impossible, but a fragile cease–fire is in effect along the French–Spanish border. British troops are garrisoned on the European mainland, and skirmishes continue.

1814, January.

Taking advantage of a particularly severe winter, Swedish and Norwegian troops march across the ice of Øresund, invade, and cease Denmark. Swedish King Karl XIV Johan proclaims it part of Sweden–Norway.

1814, May 17th

The European Axis is proclaimed as an alliance between France and Sweden–Norway.

1815

An alliance (“The 7th Alliance”) between Britain, Austria, Prussia and Russia is formed with the sole purpose of dethroning Napoléon Bonaparte.

June sees British and Preussian troops clash with French at a small village in Belgium. The Battle of Waterloo is later known as the “last proper battle” of the war. With Russian and Austrian troops delayed, and the Preussians beset by Swedish and Norwegian troops commanded by Karl XIV Johan, the “last battle” fade out to a skirmish. The Allied troops retreat north, and east.

In December, Ada Augusta Byron, daughter of Lord and Lady Byron is born.

1816

The 95th Rifles are removed from the Line and reformed as the Rifle Brigade. The old name stick, and create some confusion when reassigned to the 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot. Napoléon I abdicates for reasons of health, possibly due to lead poisioning, and is followed by Emperor Napoléon II.

1819, May.

Alexandrina Victoria, daughter of Edward, the Duke of Kent, and Victoire of Saxe–Coburg is born.

1822

Charles Babbage creates the Difference Engine.

1830

Babbage commences work on the Analytical Engine. The work progresses slowly due to lack of funds.

1832, July

1834

Georg and Edward Scheutz builds a smaller copy of the Difference Engine.

1834, November

Ada Byron is introduced to the work of Charles Babbage.

1837, June

Upon the death of her uncle, William IV, Alexandrina Victoria is crowned Queen Victoria I of Great Britain. The Queen, through her friend Ada Byron, learns about Charles Babbage. Realising the importance of a mechanical mind, the Monarch places great funds at the disposal of Ms. Byron, who — together with Mr. Babbage — commences work on making the Analytical Engine a reality.

1840, February

Queen Victoria marries Prince Albert of Saxe–Coburg–Gotha. They are presented with a functional, if early and crude, Analytical Engine as their wedding gift from Ms. Byron and Mr. Babbage.

The Engine, powered by a revolutionary Steam Motor developed by Robert Watts, grandson of James Watts, is installed in the newly constructed East Wing of Buckingham Palace and tasked with the day to day adminstrative work of the Queen.

1841

The second Analytical Engine is installed at Oxford University, with a third planned for Cambridge later the same year. Ms. Ada Byron presents a paper titled “Shifting Paradigms — Shifting Society” in which she outlines how a growing number of Analytical Engines will require a growing number of qualified engineers and operators. She also establishes which criteria should be used in their selection.

In June, Oxford University, with support from the Royal Navy and Army, establishes the Babbage College of Analytical Engineering, and the first students are enrolled. As the only qualified teacher, Ms. Byron is invited to take the Headmistress’ Chair.

1842

The first contingent of Engineers — known informally as ‘clackers’ – graduates. The number of Analytical Engines have now grown, with the Army, the Navy, several large London hospitals, and the Municipal Works Department of the capital all clamouring for people.

During the summer, the shortage of Engineers and a consistent low rate of success on entrance exams, force the College to accept Ms. Byron’s demand that women students are allowed to apply. The autum shows a student body consisting of almost eighty per cent women, with few men passing the entrance exams.

1843

The second contingent of ‘clackers’ are released. A majority are women; few of these engineers proceed to join the workforce. The lack of professionals is becoming acute.

Ada Augusta Byron marries the Earl of Lovelace. Reports arrive of French experiments with — presumably — stolen blueprints for the Engine.

1844

Four years after the first working Analytical Engine, the crisis brought on by lack of Analytical Engineers peaks. The Charing Cross Hospital Engine produce a cure for Chicken Pox; an achievement managed only by a team of dedicated doctors and nurses working with analytical engineers Mrs. Davidson and Ms. Smith.

Early July see newspaper stories of French artillery units shelling British troops with such accuracy it is believed only a mechanical mind can be behind the calculations. Further reports suggest an Analytical Engine, mounted on a steam truck, support mobile artillery units. British troops are forced to withdraw.

In August, Queen Victoria addresses both Houses of Parliament, and states she will exercise her Royal Prerogative in the matter. An Emergency Law is subsequently pushed through, giving equal rights to women, and requiring that they be accepted on the same terms as men in relation to any work.

The Monarch makes it quite clear that she will consider any refusal to be an act of treason as “the French are revolutionaries; to defeat them we must be more so!”

Despite massive outcries at this unique social manipulation, most Engine–installations jump at the chance, and eat up the third contingent of Engineers without exception.

In December, the influx of qualified engineers brings a project to bear fruit at the Greenwich Hospital and Royal Naval College. Their engine produces sufficiently detailed specifications for a new, clockwork–driven, artificial limb. A number of disabled veterans are immediately fitted with new prosthetics; several can return to active duty.

1849, November

Birth of Crown Princess Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise. The Engine at Oxford University, running twenty–four hours a day, develop a material which, when run through with enough electricy, defy gravity. It is named ‘flywood’ for its appearance of old, weathered oak.

1852

Lady Ada Augusta Lovelace né Byron dies. She is given a state funeral. The British armed forces report that they are now again on an equal footing to their French counterparts in regards to the use of tactical analytical engines.

1860

Miss Mary Fraser, of Tadcaster, Yorkshire, age 16, applies to the Royal Navy. Amidst massive outcries, the High Court declares that the Law applies equally to the Military Services. Midshipwoman Fraser joins the crew of the HMS Trafalgar in May as the only woman to – officially — serve in the Armed Forces.

The Rifle Brigade, in particular, take the news at face value and begin to actively recruit female sharp–shooters. Their argument that “they are harder to spot” cannot be denied.

1861

Death of the Earl of Lovelace. Dr. Richard J. Gatling designs the first practical machine–gun.

1864

First tea–rooms open in London.

1865

With the advent of her sixteenth birthday, Crown Princess Victoria enrolls with the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich.

1871

Charles Babbage dies and is given a state funeral. The Royal Space Navy is formed, and proceeds to recruite almost exclusively among women. It’s sister organisation, the Royal Air Navy, follows suit.

1872 (approximate)

Birth of Mary, last name unknown (later takes the surname Marston), mother and father unknown, in the Seven Dials district of London. That same year sees the birth of Anne MacDougal, daughter of Laird MacDougal, at Dunstaffnage Castle, Argyll.

1876

Queen Victoria I of Great Britain is crowned Empress of India. The Coronation Seremony is crowned by the first fly–by of the Royal Space Navy’s Aether Frigate HMS Luna. She is joined in celebration by the Princess of Wales, Major the 1st battalion the Coldstream Guards.

In September, the Luna completes the first mission to its namesake, bringing back the first samples of moon–soil. A followup–expedition to establish a colony is planned to take place within two years, but delayed by the onset of the Crimean Crisis.

1877

When a quarrel between Russian Orthodox monks and French Catholics over who has precedence at the holy Places in Jerusalem and Nazereth turns violent, Tsar Nicholas I of Russia demand the right to protect the Christian shrines in the Holy Land. He move troops into Wallachia and Moldavia.

With a Russian fleet moving to gain control of the Straits of Bosporous, the British break the 7th Alliance, and send expeditionary forces to the Balkans. Among these are the first and second battalion the Coldstream Guards, and the young Crown Princess’ popularity soar when news come to England that she had rallied a handful of surviving Guardsmen, stragglers of the Royal Marines, and a number of Turkish infantrymen and joined the 93rd Highlanders, breaking a Russian attack at Balaklava. 1854!

Sir Colin Campbell, commanding the 93rd at the time, later wrote to the Queen: “I confess, Your Majesty, that I was a thick–headed bull of a man when, seventeen years ago, I swore at the foolish notion of allowing women into the military. Today I have seen Your daughter stand and steady a line of men, as brave in battle as any of them; nay braver, for were we lost then her fate in the hands of the savage Russians would be far worse than would my own; yet knowing this she still stood, and stood firm … it is my hope that You can forgive a stubborn old man his mistakes.”

The Crimean war end abruptly when the city of Sevastopol is taken by Irish troops of the Queen’s Own Airmen, effecting total surprise as they are landed inside the walls by aerial gunboats of the newly formed Royal Air Navy. At the same time French troops are reported to push east and once more across the Russian border.

1881

Retired Army Surgeon Dr. John Watson is introduced to Mr. Sherlock Holmes by a mutual aquaintance.

1882

Mr. Sherlock Holmes establishes a highly unofficial group of private agents known as the Baker Street Irregulars. The aptly named Irregulars, a gang of street urchins, prove themselves without equal in the business of information gathering.

The first Mars Expedition sets out.

1885

The second Mars Expedition is launched. Amidst rumours that the French has reached the Red Planet, the aether flier Prince Albert carry volunteer troops and the new Maxim II steam–driven machine–guns.

1888

Sherlock Holmes is at the peak of his career. The Red Planet is no longer virgin territory — civilizations, if primitive such, are discovered, and several countries — France and Japan among them — are working towards establishing trade.

1889

The first Martian colony — New London — is established. Civil servants and army detachments are shipped.